THOMPSON'S VERMONT. Part Third. GAZETTEER OF VERMONT. TOPOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL DESCRIPTIONS OF ALL THE COUNTIES, TOWNS, RIVERS, MOUNTAINS, &c. ALPHABETICALLY ARRANGED. ACTON. ADDISON. ACTON. This was a small township sit- lake Champlain, which separates it from uated in the northern part of Windham the townships of Moriah and Crown Point county and bounded north by Grafton, east by Athens, south by Townshend and west by Windham and Jamaica. It was granted to Moses Johnson and thirty three others, and chartered February 23, 1782. It contained 5,045 acres, and was originally called Johnson's Gore. It was constituted a township by the name of Acton, November 6, 1800, and the town was organized March 3, 1801, Waitstill Scott being the first town clerk. It was represented only in connexion with Townshend. The settlement was commenced in 1781 by Noah and Timothy Fisher, Ebenezer Bivens and Riverius Hooker. Timothy Fisher cut the first tree with the view of clearing the land. The surface of the ground is uneven. It is well watered by springs and brooks, but has no good mill stream. In October, 1840, Acton was annexed to Townshend, and it now constitutes the northern part of that township. in the state of New York. It lies 83 miles northwesterly from Bennington, 62 west from Newbury, 40 from Montpelier and 29 southwesterly from Burlington. It was chartered October 14, 1761, and originally contained 23,800 acres, measuring about 7 miles from east to west and 6 from north to south. A portion of the northeastern part, lying east of Otter creek, has since been annexed to Waltham, and the southeastern part,east of Snake mountain, to Weybridge. The first civilized establishment in Vermont on the west side of the mountains, was on Chimney point in the southwest corner of this township. It was made by the French in 1731, the same year in which they built fort Frederick, afterwards Crown Point, and a stone windmill which was built and garrisoned here constituted an outpost of that important fortress while in possession of the French. The first settlement made by the English was in the year 1769 or 1770, by a Mr. ADDISON, a post town in the western Ward, the Hon. John Strong and Zadock part of Addison county, in lat. 44° 4' north Everest, Esq. with their families. This and long. 3° 42' east, is bounded north settlement was broken up and the settlers by Panton, east by Weybridge and Wal-retired to the south, upon the advance of tham, south by Bridport and west by * the British up the lake in the fall of 1776, and none of them returned with their fam lies till the month of May, 1783. During their seven years absence, every building which they had erected was destroyed by ADDISON. ADDISON COUNTY-AIKEN'S GORE. ALBANY. the enemy, who were masters of the lake | miles below Middlebury, is a place of contill the close of the war. From its re-siderable business. The principal stream newal at the close of the war, the settle-is Otter creek. It enters the county from ment advanced with considerable rapidity, the south, crossing about the middle of and Messrs. Strong, Everest and some the southern boundary, and falls into lake others of the first settlers who had been Champlain near the northwest corner. driven off and returned, lived to see the Mad river and White river have their township nearly all under improvement sources among the mountains in the eastand themselves in possession of all the ern part of the county. Granular limerational enjoyments of life. A congrega- stone is very abundant here. It is extentional church was organized here Novem- sively quarried in many places and is used ber 24, 1803, by the Rev. Job Swift, who as a building stone. It receives a good labored here for about two years previous polish, is beautifully variegated and large to his death, which took place October 20, quantities of it are annually manufactured, 1804, while on a visit at Enosburgh. He particularly at Middlebury, and the marwas born at Sandwich, Massachusetts, ble transported to Albany, New York and January 17, 1743, graduated at Yale col- other places. The western part is a rich lege in 1765, and studied theology with farming country, and the soil is well Dr. Bellamy. The Rev. Justus S. Hough adapted to the production of grain. The was ordained as pastor of this church, eastern part is mountainous and broken. January 26, 1815, and was dismissed Feb- Statistics of 1840.-Horses, 5,425; cattle, ruary 21, 1825. At other times the church 39,718; sheep, 261,010; swine, 14,305; has depended for preaching upon tempo- wheat, bush. 31,322; barley, 255; oats, rary engagements. Soil generally marl 141,794; rye, 11,427; buck wheat, 7219; or clay and productive. The surface of In. corn, 95,304; potatoes, 440,079; hay, this township is low and generally pretty tons, 111,120; sugar, lbs. 132,013; wool, level. Snake mountain, in the southeast 676,969. Population, 23,569. corner, is the most considerable elevation. It is very poorly watered and has no valuable mill privileges. Otter creek touches upon the northeast corner, and a dead branch of Otter creek runs through the town, from south to north, a little west of the centre, and unites with Otter creek in Ferrisburgh. Mill river and Pike river are two small streams, which fall into lake Champlain nearly opposite to Crown Point. The magnetic oxyde of iron is found here in small octædric crystals in argillite, and also the sulphuret of iron. Statistics of 1840.-Horses, 475; cattle, 3212; sheep, 30,465; swine, 1,099; wheat, bu. 1,722; barley, 42; oats, 9,655; rye, 318; buck wheat, 600; Indian corn, 6,250; potatoes, 19,750; hay, tons, 10,800; sugar, lbs. 865; wool, 82,900. Population, 1229. AIKIN'S GORE, called also Virgin Hall, a small tract of only 930 acres, granted February 25, 1782, to Edward Aikin, and lying upon the Green Mountain between Winhall and Landgrove. ALBANY, a post township, six miles square, lying in the central part of Orleans county. It is 34 miles north from Montpelier, in lat. 44° 43' and long. 4° 47', and is bounded northeasterly by Irasburgh, southeasterly by Glover, southwesterly by Craftsbury and northwesterly by Lowell and Eden. This township was granted June 27, 1781, and chartered June 26, 1782, by the name of Lutterloh. The name was altered to Albany, October 13, 1815. The settlement of this township was commenced about the close of the last century. In 1800 there were only 12 inhabitants. The town ADDISON COUNTY is on the west side of was organized March 27, 1806, and Benthe Green Mountains, at nearly an equal | jamin Neal was first town clerk. This distance from the northern and southern township is watered by Black river, which extremities of the state. It lies between is formed in Craftsbury, and passes through 43° 50' and 44° 18' north lat. and between it in a northeasterly direction, and by 3° 38' and 4° 18' east long., being about several of its branches. There are like30 miles from north to south, and 33 miles wise several considerable ponds, the most from east to west, containing about 700 important of which, great Hosmer's pond, square miles. This county was incorpo- is partly in Craftsbury. The soil is genrated February 27, 1787. Middlebury, a erally sandy or gravelly. Along the rivthriving town on Otter creek, is the shire er is some fine intervale: Statistics of 1840. town, and is situated nearly in the centre-Horses, 228; cattle, 1,418; sheep, 3,of the county. The Supreme court sits 201; swine, 701; wheat, bu. 2,618; barhere annually on the fourth Tuesday in ley, 894; oats, 10,769; rye, 131; buck January, and the County court on the wheat, 2,175; Ind. corn, 1,597; potatoes, second Tuesday in June and December. 43,389; hay, tons, 2,685; sugar, lbs. Vergennes, situated on Otter creek 1242,298; wool, 6,121. Population, 920. ALBURGH. ALLEN'S POINT. ANDOVER. did considerable business. Statistics of 1840.-Horses, 419; cattle, 1,878; sheep, 4,887; swine, 1,005; wheat, bu. 9,237; barley, 1,017; oats, 13,576; rye, 2,114; b'k wheat, 4,861; In. corn, 3,786; wool, 11,191. Population, 1,344. ALLEN'S POINT is the southern extremity of Grand Isle in the township of South Hero. It takes its name from Mr. ALBURGH, a post town in Grand Isle in chronical complaints, and is a place of county lies in the north west corner of considerable resort. It is undoubtedly the state and is surrounded by water on all useful in cases of scrofula and cutaneous sides, except the north, where it is bound-eruptions.* There were in 1824, 8 school ed by Canada, or the 45th degree of north districts, 7 school houses, 3 stores, 3 tavlatitude. It is bounded east by Missisco erns, 2 tanneries and a windmill which bay, west by lake Champlain, and runs to a point at the south, being of a trianguJar form. The length of the township from north to south is about 10 miles, and its average width about 34 miles. It is 33 miles north of Burlington, and its charter is dated February 23, 1781. The French made a small settlement here more than 100 years ago and erected a stone wind-mill upon a point, which has Allen, one of the early settlers there. in consequence, received the name of ANDOVER, a post town in the south Wind-mill Point. The settlement of this west part of Windsor county, is 20 miles township, by the English, was com-south-west from Windsor, 68 south from menced by emigrants from St. Johns in Montpelier, and 37 north east from BenLower Canada about the year 1782. The nington, and lies in lat. 42° 17' and long. settlers were originally from the states, 3° 43'. It is bounded north by Ludlow, but, being loyalists, they found it neces- east by Chester, south by Windham, and sary, during the revolutionary war, to west by Weston, and contains about shelter themselves in Canada. For some 18,000 acres. The charter of Andover is years after the settlement was commen- dated Oct. 16, 1761, and was given to ced, they were much harrassed and per- Nathaniel House and his associates. Wesplexed by the diversity of claimants to ton was formerly a part of this township the lands. Ira Allen claimed the town and is included in the charter. It was and obtained a grant of it from the state set off and constituted a separate town, after the settlement was begun, and 5 or by the Legislature, Oct. 26, 1799. Shu6 years after brought actions of ejectment bal Geer and Amos Babcock came into against the settlers, which terminated in this township about the year 1768, and their favor. In their defence in these made a beginning, but soon abandoned it. suits the people expended about $3000. In 1776, Moses Warner, John Simons, It was also claimed by Sir George Young John Simons, jr. Eli Pease, Jacob Pease, as a grant from the Duke of York, and by and James Keyes, emigrants from Ensome others; but the settlers were deter- field, Con., made the first permanent setmined to hold the lands themselves, and tlement. William, son of Shubal Geer, all the actions of ejectment brought was the first child born in town. John against them have hitherto been decided Simons erected the first saw and grist mill in their favor. The town was organized about the year 1780. The town was orin 1792, and Thomas C. Reynolds was ganized in March, 1781. Moses Warner the first town clerk, and David Staunton, was first town clerk, and John Simons the first representative. The religious first representative. The religious dedenominations are Methodists, Episcopa- nominations in this town are Baptist, lians, Congregationalists and Baptists. Universalist, Methodist and CongregaThe Methodist society is considerable tionalist. The Baptist church was organlarge; the others are small. Neither so-ized August 31, 1803. The Rev. Joel ciety has a settled minister, but they are occasionally supplied with preaching. There are some instances of longevity, viz. Patrick Carigan, who was 99 years and 3 months old, and several others have died here who were between 95 and 100. Epidemics have frequently prevailed here, but there have been no very remarkable seasons of mortality. The surface of the town is very level. There are no mountains or streams of any consequence. The soil is very rich and productive. The timber is principally cedar,elm, maple and beech. There is a mineral spring which is somewhat célebrated for its efficacy Maning was ordained over this church Oct. 2, 1806. The Baptist meetinghouse in the northeast corner of the town, is 30 by 40 feet on the ground, and was erected in 1809. The Universalist church was constituted in 1807. The Rev. Cornelius G. Persons preached to this church and society four or five years. The Congregationalist meeting house stands near the centre of the town, is 44 by 52 feet on the ground, and was built in 1820. The spotted fever appeared in one neighbourhood in this town in the spring of 1812, and in eight days carried *See part first page 8. ARLINGTON. ARLINGTON. off eight persons. The surface of the church, which is called St. James' Church, township is uneven and the soil and tim- go back to August 16, 1784. The first ber similar to that of the other towns ly-rector of this church was the Rev. James ing along the eastern side of the Green Nichols, settled in 1786. His salary was Mountains. Markhamn's Mountain and £20 a year, which was raised by an asMount Terrible lie along the western sessment upon the grand list." His part of the township. These mountains conduct proving irregular and unsatisfacoccasioned the division of the town, and tory, he was dismissed about the year render the communication between this 1792, and the Rev. Russell Catlin, whose town and Weston somewhat difficult. conduct proved still more exceptionable, There are no considerable streams. The succeeded him. In the beginning of 1803, town is watered principally by the head the Rev. Abraham Bronson took charge branches of Williams river. In 1824, the of this church for half the time. This town was divided into eight school dis- connexion, happy and much blessed, lasttricts with a school house in each. ed till January, 1826. He was succeeded There were at that time three grist mills, by the Rev. Joseph H. Coit. In 1828, three saw mills, one fulling mill, one Mr. C. was succeeded by the Rev. James carding machine, two stores, two taverns Tappan, who, the next year, was succeedand one tannery. Statistics of 1840.-ed by the Rev. Wm. S. Perkins, who reHorses, 198; cattle, 1,623; sheep, 5,165; swine, 523; wheat, bu. 1,159; barley,779; oats, 6,319; rye, 1,348; b'k wheat, 420; In. corn, 882; potatoes, 5,050; hay,tons, 988; sugar, lbs. 1255; wool, 9,000. Population, 878. signed in 1833. Since that time the ministers have been the Rev. Luman Foote, the Rev. John Grigg and the Rev. Anson B. Hard, who is a native of the town and the present rector. The first church was erected in 1786, by a tax assessed on the grand list. In 1831 a new and elegant stone church was erected at a cost of $10, ARLINGTON, a post town in Bennington county, lies in lat. 43° 4' and long. 3° 54', and contains 39 square miles. It is bound-000. Total baptisms 352; present comed north by Sandgate, east by Sunderland, south by Shaftsbury, and west by Salem, New York, and is situated 40 miles from Troy,40 miles from Saratoga springs, 40 from Whitehall and 40 from Rutland. It was chartered July 28, 1761, to a number of persons mostly belonging to Litchfield, Connecticut. The first settlement was made in the year 1763, by Dr. Simon Burton, William Searls and Ebenezer Wallis. In 1764, Jehiel Hawley, Josiah Hawley, Remember Baker and Thomas Peck, removed into this town: The former was a principal land owner, and has left in this place a numerous and respectable posterity. The early records of this town were lost or destroyed in the year 1777, by Isaac Bisco, then town clerk, who became a tory and fled to Canada. Hence the precise time the town was organized, is not known. It was about the year 1768, and Remember Baker, an active and distinguished leader in the controversy between the New Hampshire grants and New York, was the first town clerk. Thomas Chittenden was a resident in this town during the revolution, and was chosen to represent it in the first assembly after the adoption of the constitution, but, being elected governor the same year, was succeeded as representative by Ethan Allen. This town was originally settled by Episcopalians, and an Episcopal society was organized here some years before the revolution, which has existed ever since. The records of this municants 80. Arlington, lying lower than the surrounding towns, has the principal streams in the county, passing through it. Roaring branch enters the eastern part of the town from Sunderland, Mill brook the southeast part from Glastenbury, Warm brook the south part from Shaftsbury, and Green river the north part from Sandgate. These streams all fall into the Battenkill, which enters the town near the northeast corner, runs southwesterly about three miles, thence nearly west about six miles further, and crosses the west line of the town into Washington county, New York. These streams afford many very excellent mill privileges, and along their banks are considerable tracts of the finest intervale land. The principal elevations are West Mountain and Red Mountain, which extend from south to north through the west part of the town. These mountains are separated by the Battenkill, in its westerly course through the township. They are covered with a considerable variety of timber, consisting of white, red and black oak, white and black birch, chestnut, hickory, &c. The soil is rich and very productive of English grain. The soil in the eastern part of the town is chiefly loam, and the timber principally beech, maple, ash, birch, elm, bass and butternut. A glade of land, three miles in lenth, and one in breadth, extending from north to south, near the foot of West mountain, was formerly covered with an extraordi ASCUTNEY MOUNTAIN. ATHENS. portion of the mountain. The name of this mountain is undoubtedly of Indian origin, but writers are not agreed with regard to its signification. Dr. Dwight says that it signifies the three brothers, and that it was given in allusion to its three summits.* Kendall tells us that the true Indian name is Cas-cad-nac, and that it means a peaked mountain with steep sides. From the summit of this mountain the prospect is extensive and beautiful, and richly repays the labor of climbing its rugged ascent. The Connecticut, which is easily traced, winding its way through the rich and highly cultivated meadows, adds much to the interest and charm of the scenery. nary growth of white pine. The soil of of any kind, particularly on the southern ASCUTNEY MOUNTAIN, is situated partly in Windsor and partly in Weathersfield, being crossed by the line between those townships. The altitude of this mountain is 3320 feet above tide-water, and 3116 ft. above Connecticut river at Windsor bridge. It is an immense mass of granite, producing but little timber, or vegetation ATHENS, a small post town in the north eastern part of Windham county, is in latitude 43 7', and is bounded north by Grafton, east by Westminster and Rockingham, south by Brookline and Townshend, and west by Townshend. It is ten miles from Bellows-Falls, and 25 miles northerly from Brattleborough. It was granted March 11, and chartered May 3, 1780, to Solomon Harvey, John Moore, Jonathan Perham and their associates, and contains about 7628 acres. The first beginnings towards a settlement in this town were made in the fall of 1779, by Jonathan Perham, Seth Oakes, Joseph Rasier, James Shafter and Jonathan Foster. They chopped a few acres, erected a log-hut, and then all left the town. Feb. 25, 1780, Jonathan Perham and Ephraim Holden removed their families into the town from Rindge, N. H., and were soon followed by Seth Oakes and family, from Winchendon. The first settlers had many privations and hardships to encounter. The snow was four feet deep when they came into town, and they had to beat their own path for eight miles through the woods. A small yoke of oxen were the only domestic animals of any kind they took with them. The families all moved into the hut above mentioned. In May following, Mrs. Oakes was delivered of a daughter, the first child born in town. The same month, Samuel Bayley, from Sterling, Mass., and Micah Reed, from Westmoreland, N. H., came into town, and during the following summer, they, in company, erected a saw mill, and the next year a grist mill, for which they received 168 acres of land, situated near the centre of the town. Simon Evans, Ezra Chaffe, and Jeremiah Tinkham began improvements, and on the 18th of September, of that year, Isaac, son of Jonathan Perham, died, and this *Travels, Vol. II. p. 106. †Ib. Vol. III. p. 202. The same year, |